‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Finale Gives Fans One Last Message From Derek Shepherd

Spoiler Alert: If you have not seen Season 11, Episode 25 of “Grey’s Anatomy,” “You’re My Home,” do not continue reading.

This season of “Grey’s Anatomy” has easily been the most depressing in the series’ 11 years on air. The devastating and shocking death of Dr. Derek Shepherd

On Thursday’s finale, just as we expected, Jackson (Jesse Williams) and April (Sarah Drew) ended their relationship

While Chief Webber (James Pickens Jr.) and Catherine Avery (Debbie Allen) finally managed to stop fighting long enough to get married, the wedding held at Meredith’s (Ellen Pompeo) house was far from the highlight of Thursday night’s episode. The best takeaway from the finale would be the last voice message Meredith received from her late husband, which she tells his grieving sister Amelia (Caterina Scorsone) to listen to:

The emotional message showed Derek on a ferry, thinking about his family and talking about his hopes for the future. While it was incredibly bittersweet after everything that happened, at least it was some sort of goodbye.

Even “Grey’s Anatomy” creator Shonda Rhimes got emotional:

Here come my own personal supply of tissues. Goodbye, birthday twin. Can’t believe this is his last scene I’ll ever see in my editing room.

— shonda rhimes (@shondarhimes) May 15, 2015

“Grey’s Anatomy” will return for Season 12 this fall.